Preparing for Birth with Yoga, Updated Edition: Empowering and Effective Exercise for Pregnancy and Childbirth

The anatomical illustrations in this book are very clear and what is especially helpful is how the author stresses the role of the partner, who is also active in the whole process. The suggestions for labour and what happens after are excellent. It has clear explanations of all processes that happen in woman's body in pregnancy, helps you understand your body and mind during pregnancy and helps you fix the basic troubles you might have in pregnancy, like bad posture, week pelvic muscles or backpain with simple tips.

This is a really good book that also beginners can use. The postures strengthen you for delivery and also give you some quiet time to stay in touch with and appreciate all that's going on with your body.

Yoga, A Gem for Women presents a detailed, practical guide for the yoga student who wants to go deeper with her practice of Hatha Yoga. The book is divided into three sections that create an integrated path of yoga suitable for both the beginner and advanced student:
Theory--Yoga and Women
A natural bridge to health and well-being.
Practice--Knowing Your Body
Techniques and benefits of over 80 asanas complete with photographs and detailed instructions.
Experience--On the Threshold of Peace
Relaxation, breathing and the practice of meditation

Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful: Experience the Natural Power of Pregnancy and Birth with Kundalini Yoga and Meditation

This book is the equivalent to a weekend spiritual retreat. All the anxiety and frustration of pregnancy is easily dissapated as Gurmukh explains the natural and beautiful process of gestation. Whenever I am feeling particular anxious or unsure I re-read a chapter. Just beautiful. Great book to read before bed instead of all the stress-inducing pregnancy manuals.

This book is very thorough and is an excellent reference to the physiological and emotional aspects of pregnancy and birth. But it doesn't have a lot of information on natural childbirth, completely unmedicated. If you're planning a natural birth (rather than a managed delivery), you'll need and want additional resources.
I did find the tables listing various interventions with their benefits and risks very helpful.

Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation

Here is a holistic approach to childbirth that examines this profound rite-of-passage, not as a medical event, but as an act of self-discovery. Exercises and activities such as journal writing, meditation, and painting will help mothers analyze their thoughts and face their fears during pregnancy. For use during birth, the book offers proven techniques for coping with labor pain without drugs, a discussion of the doctor or midwife’s role, and a look at the father’s responsibilities. Childbirth education should also include what do expect after the baby is born. Here are baby basics, such as how to bathe a newborn, how to get the little one to sleep, and tips for getting nursing off to a good start. Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is a process of continuous learning and adjustment; Birthing From Within provides the necessary support and education to make each phase of birthing a rewarding experience.

An updated edition of Kitzinger's must-have compendium for expectant mothers offers new insights into having a healthy pregnancy and what's happening in today's birthing rooms. Like other reliable sources, Kitzinger's book gives women and their partners an in-depth look at both the baby's and the mother's physical and emotional development during pregnancy. But no other source offers such a complete and educated look at childbirth choices for mothers-to-be.

The role of birth partner is a tough one. A birth partner may be expected to help a laboring woman make decisions and help her get through the pain and discomfort of childbirth. During this high-intensity time, the birth partner--whether father, partner, or friend--needs a book that can give thorough information for studying ahead of time, yet can be easily referenced in an emergency or for quick answers during labor and delivery.

The Birth Partner, Third Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions

Penny Simkin's first edition of this book was really helpful to me in my last pregnancy, and this edition is even better. Updated with modern information, my husband is finding it a great tool to prepare himself.

Using history as her guide, nationally recognized midwife Gaskin explores what she hopes will be a renaissance in natural childbirth, something that she's been advocating since the mid-1970s. By focusing on how women of ancient civilizations and other modern peoples give birth, Gaskin puts our own hypersensitivities in perspective, uncovering a beautiful, sometimes orgasmic experience rather than a dreadful, painful one. Sure, pain is part of childbirth, but preparing for the pain in a realistic rather than sentimental way--whether giving birth at home or in a hospital--can be the key to a woman's ability to deal with it naturally. Within the pages of personal anecdotes, some touching, some startling, from Gaskin's patients and colleagues, every woman is sure to find something to relate to, whether or not she chooses to have a medicine-free labor. The helpful back matter features a glossary, a detailed resource list including advocacy groups and Web sites, and a bibliography that includes periodicals, rounding out an extremely comprehensive and up-to-date guide on the topic.

The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two

Dr. Sears' book contains valuable discussions of contemporary parenting issues that cannot be found in other standard parenting books, including a comprehensive discussion of breastfeeding techinques and chapters on "baby-wearing" (using a sling) and on "nighttime parenting," including sharing a bed with your baby. As first time parents interested in these subjects, the book is very useful.

The overall message of this book is important for parents and babies; we need to let babies and children grow and develop. We need to provide stimulation and new experiences. We need to keep the little ones close, provide them security and not force Western-style "independence" on them. This keeping close means a natural birth, breastfeeding, holding and talking to- not getting our children attached to things.

Everything you should know about feeding your baby and toddler from beginning solid foods through age three years. How and when to start your baby on solid foods, with detailed information on the best and safest high chair, spoons, bibs, and other feeding equipment.
Which foods to introduce to your baby during each month of his first year, with details on proper food consistency, amount, and temperature. How much you can expect your baby to eat and drink during the months of her first year with information on her digestive system at each age. Interesting details on your baby's physical, emotional, intellectual, and psychological development as it applies to self-feeding and mealtimes; how you can increase your baby's or toddler's self-esteem and self-confidence during mealtimes.

Baby Greens is a delightful, heartfelt, educational primer and support system for parents. It has imaginative, fun-filled easy recipes, useful resources, and practical parent-child activities to potentiate the live-food way of life. I consider Baby Greens a must-read for all, especially live-food, parents.